Enantioselective Syntheses of Both Enantiomers of Noranabasamine

Both the R and S enantiomers of the amphibian alkaloid noranabasamine were prepared in >30% overall yield with 80% ee and 86% ee, respectively. An enantioselective iridium-catalyzed N-heterocyclization reaction with either (R)- or (S)-1-phenylethylamine and 1-(5-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-1,5-pentanediol was employed to generate the 2-(pyridin-3-yl)-piperidine ring system in 69-72% yield.